Swivel connection



March 30, 1948. l.. G. EHMANN 2,438,548

SWIVEL CONNECTION Filed Dec. 29, 1944 Patented Mar. 3G, i948 SWIVEL CONNECTION Leslie G. Ehmann, Portland, Oreg., assignor to Electric Steel Foundry, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Application December 29, 1944, Serial N o. 570,374 1l Claims. (Cl. 28T-76) This invention relates generally to swivel connections and more particularly to those of a type adapted for use with cables, ropes, chains or the like.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel connection, at least one end of which is adapted to be connected to a cable, chain, rope or the like, and which includes joints providing for swivelling movement in a plurality of angularly related planes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a swivel connection including a ball and socket joint capable of rotational movement and swinging movement in a plane transverse to the rotational movement,'as well as a second joint capable of swinging lmovement in a plane transverse to that of the swinging movement of the ball and socket joint.V-

The invention has for an additional object the provision of a three-way swivel connection in which opposed end connecting parts are swingn able in two transverse planes and an intermediate connecting part is rotatably supported.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swivel connection embodying my invention in a preferred form and indicating the connection thereof to cables;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective showing the parts of the swivel connection of Fig. l in disassembled relation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalV sectional view of the swivel connection shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of a modification of a part of the preferredswivel connection; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of vmy swivel connection. n

Although not at all limited thereto, the swivel connection of my invention is particularly adapted for use in making connections to or between sections of a main drag line usedin logging and/or the choker rigging which generally accompanies the main drag line. In the exemplary embodiments for instance, Figs. l, 2 and 3 illustrate an adaptation of the invention to a threeway swivelI connection of atype useable for ccnnecting a choker rigging between sections of a main dragV line. The portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4 illustrates a modiiied end connecting portion adapted to the use of chain as the connected line. The modication of my swivel connection shown in Fig. 5 depicts its application to use in conjunction with a butt hook for making a connection between cable sections or to a choker rigging.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, a three-way swivel It has an intermediate connecting pin I2, the outer surface of which intermediate its ends provides a longitudinal and cylindrical bearing surface I3. One end preferably has an enlarged head portion I4 providing a locating shoulder I5, while the other end is desirably cylindrical and of a size corresponding to that of the bearing surf-ace I3. Near the ends lateral bores I6 and I'I provide connecting bearings which, in the present instance, are desirablyparallel :and in the same plane, Also, the opposite end surfaces I8 and I9 are preferably concavely cut away in concentric relation with respect to the axes of the bores I6 and Il, respectively.

At opposite ends of the connecting pin I2 similar basket-like sockets 20 and 22 yare rotatably connected thereto by'fastening means such as bolts 23 and 24, respectively. The basket-like sockets 20 and 22 each have substantially parallel projecting side lug portions 25 and 25 and an intermediate connecting portion 2l, the side lug portions 25 and 26 being adapted to straddle the ends of the intermediate connecting pin I2. In the disclosed form, the side lug portions 25 have apertures 28 through which the bolts 23 and 24 pass, while the side lug portions 25 have threaded apertures 29 which t the threaded ends of the bolts. Thus, in the assembly the bolts 23 and 24 extend through the apertures 28 in the side lug portions 25 of the basket-like sockets land. through the bores I6 and I1 in the pin I2 and are threaded into the apertures 29 to secure the sockets to the ends of the connecting pin. The connecting pin I2 being rotatable relative to both of the bolts 23 and 24, the opposed basket-like sockets 2Il and 22, in the disclosed embodiment, are swingable in a common plane relative to the ends of the connecting pin.

Within the connecting portions 2l socket re cesses 30 provide seats for ball connectors 32 and 33. In addition, substantially arcuate elongated slots 34 in the connecting portions 2l of the basket-like sockets adjoin the socket recesses 30 to provide passages for makin-g connections to the ball connectors 32 and 33. The elongation of the slots 34 is desirably in a direction parallel to the axes of the bolts 23 land 24, so that the ball connectors are movable in the socket recesses in a direction transverse to the swinging move- 3 ment of the sockets 20 and 22 relative to the ends of the connecting pin l2, Cylindrical ange extensions 35 are desirably formed integrally on the ball connectors 32 and 33 and extend outwardly through the slots 34 to serve as guides and to protect connected cables, such as 3S, from wear.

To facilitatethe connectionof cables, such as 36, to the ball connectors 32 and 33, those con-V nectors are desirably drilled, as at 31, axially of the projecting flange extensions 35. The methods f Y of securing the cable within the drilled openings of the ball connectors are well known in the art.

A ring connector 38 has a longitudinal opening 39 which ts over the bearing surface i 3 between the projecting side lugsY 25 and 23 of the basketlike sockets 20 and 22. The connector 38 is rotatable relative to the connecting pin l2 and has radially projecting from one side thereofi an integral connecting lug 40. An aperture 42 in the Yconnecting lug40 is provided for making connection to means such yas a'chain or choker rigging which is to be` connected to amain drag line represented by the cables'3g6. Y

From the foregoing description of the illustrated` three-way swivel connection, it may be understood that, since the ring connector 38 is rotatable relative to Ytheconnecting pin I2, the choker rigging orY other Vconnecting means attached to the connecting lugl 40 is relatively free to assume a position on any side of the three-way swivel connection. .In addition, the basket-like sockets which areswingably connectedV to the ends of thek connectingpin` l2, together with the coacting ballconnectors 32 and.=33, provide for prac-V tically universal swinging movement of the connected lines within predetermined limits. Since the ball connectors 32 `and 33 may rotate in the socket recesses 30, undesirable twisting of the line or cable is prevented. v

When connections are to be made to lines other than metal cable, such as to a chain, a ball connector 43, such as that shown in Fig. 4.-, is preferred. This modified', type of ball connector has an integral stern 44 projecting from one side of the ball, and on the projecting end of which is a connecting ring/45. The ring 45 may either be of a size which will pass through the socket recess 3d and slot 34`for assembly of the ball connector with the basket-like socket, or the stem 44 may be separable from the ball connector 43 for attachment thereto for installation.V In the latter instance, 'the stem 44 may .be threaded into a suitable threaded opening in the ball connector.

In the modi'ed form of my swivel connector shown in Fig. 5,/the basket-like socket 22v and ball connector 33` are similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to '3, inclusive, .andpreviously described. The ball connector utilized in this modiied form may, of course, be of the type shown in Fig. 4.

.instead ofY being connectedto the connecting pin, as in the, swivel connector shown in Figs.. l to 3, inclusive, the basket-like socket 220i Fig. 5 is rotatably connected by the. bolt4 24 to the end of a. butt hook 46. The butt hook 43 has an elongated body 4'? atthe end of which, opposite the basket-like socketis.an integral socket 48 adapted roleasably to engage .andi hold a ferrule onthe end or" a cable or line, such as that utilized in a choker rigging. A transverse Opening t9 near the mid-portion of the body of the butthook is of somewhat larger diameter thanthe ferrule which is adapted to be held by the socket 48, so that the ferr-nie may be freely passed therethrough for Vmaking connection to the butti hook. VA longitudinalY slot 5u in the body 41 connects the transverse opening 49 and the'socket 48 and is of a width narrower than the opening 49 or socket 48, but suicient to permit the passage of the cable. Connection of a line or cable to the butt hook 43 is accomplished by insertion of the ferrule through the opening 49 and passage of the cable through the slot 5|land1subsequentmovement ofthe line and butthook to positions such that the ferrule is seated in the socket 48.,k Release of the connection is accomplished in a reverse manner.

YFrom consideration of the modified swivel connection shown in Fig. 5, it may be understoodV that the Vbasket@like socket and coacting ball provide a swivel connection such that the butt hook 43 may be swung freely in transverse directions relative to the .connected line 36, combination of whichV transverse swinging movements provides for practically universal resulting movements within predetermined limits.

While I have-illustrated apreferred embodiment of my invention.. many modications may be made without departing from the spiritl of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, butdesire to avail myself of all changes within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claimas new and desire to securefbyLetters Patent of the United States is: Y Q l 1. Al swivel connection comprising, incombination, an intermediate ,connecting element Y providing an` axial bearing.surfaceintermediate its ends, secondary connecting elements connected to the ends of the. intermediate'connecting.element'for swinging movement in a plane extending longitudinally ofthe intermediate connecting element, end connecting elements connected-t0 the secondary connecting` elements` for swinging movements in planes transverse to the'planes of movement of the secondary connectingA elements, and interi/ening-v connecting means mounted for rotary movement on said bearingsurface. 2. A'swivel connection comprising, in combination, an intermediate connecting element providing a longitudinal bearing surfaceintermediate its'ends, vmeans for making connectionto Aone vof said ends, ball and socket meanshavingparts swingable in two transversedirections for making connection tothe other of said ends, yand intermediate connecting means rotatable on said bear.- ing surface for making another connection to said intermediate connectingmeans.YV

3. A swivel `connectioncomprising, .in combination, a connecting elementhavinga connecting socket at one end thereof, and ball and socket means having partsswingable in two transverse directions for making Yconnectionto the'other Yend thereof, said ball and socket means includgatedsiot, and means connecting-saidsidepor-v tions to said one end for swinging movement in a plane longitudinal of the rst element, anda n ball, connecting. element having. a projecting guide flange seated in said basketlike socket-:with the ange projecting into said slot for swinging movement in a plane transverse to said longitudinal plane.

5. A swivel connection comp-rising, in combination, a pin having a bearing portion intermediate its ends, basket-like sockets having opposed side lug portions straddling the ends of said pin, means connecting the side lug portions of said sockets to the ends of said pin for swinging movement, means serving as the male members of ball and socket joints and carried by said sockets for lateral swinging movement, and a ring rotatably mounted on the bearing portion of said pin and having a projecting side connecting lug thereon.

6. A swivel connection comprising, in combination, a pin having a bearing portion intermediate its ends and serving as the mid-portion of the connection, basket-like sockets Ihaving opposed side lug portions overlapping the ends of said pin and intermediate connecting portions integral with said lug portions, said connecting portions each having a slot therein elongated in a direction to extend longitudinally between said side lug portions, means for rotatably connecting the side lug portions of said sockets to the ends of said pin for swinging movement in a common plane, connecting balls carried by the sockets and having projecting gui-de flanges thereon which extend into said slots, said balls and their guide flanges being carried by the sockets and slots f-or swinging movement relative to the sockets in a plane extending longitudinally of the slots and transverse to said common plane, and a ring rotatably mounted on the bearing P01- tion of said pin and having a .projecting side connecting lug thereon.

7. A swivel connection comprising, in comblnation, a pin having a bearing portion intermediate its ends, basket-like sockets having opposed side lug portions straddling the ends of said pin, said sockets also having intermediate portions containing slots, means connecting the side lug portions of said sockets to the ends of said pin for swinging movement, a connecting ball carried by each of said sockets and having a projecting guide flange thereon which extends into said slot in the socket, said balls being movable in their respective sockets and each being guided by the said ange and slot for swinging movement in a plane lateral to the plane of swinging movement of the socket, and a ring rotatably mounted on the bearing portion of said pin and having a projecting side connecting lug thereon.

8. In a swivel connection, the combination comprising a substantially basket-like connecting element having opposed projecting and substantially parallel side portions and a connecting portion including a socket, shaft-like connecting means extending between said side portions and including a bearing having an axis, and a ball connecting element seated in said socket, saidconnecting portion of the basket-like connecting element having an arcuately curved portion with an elongated slot therethrough opening outward- 55 ly from said socket, said slot being elongated in a plane passing through the axis of said connecting means and in the direction of said arcuate curvature, and said ball having thereon a projecting guide flange extending into and movable in said slot in a plane coincidental with the axis of said connecting means so that the bearing of said connecting means and ball connecting element together provide for universal joint movement.

9. In a swivel connection, the combination comprising a substantially basket-like connecting element having opposed side portions projecting in substantially parallel relationship from a connecting portion including a socket, means for making a pivotal connection to said side portions, a ball connecting element seated in said socket for providing a second pivotal connection to the basket-like connecting element, and coacting parts on said socket and ball reistricting relative movements of the ball and socket to a plane coincidental with the axis of said pivotal connection to the side portions.

10. In a swivel connection, the combination comprising a substantially basket-like connecting element having opposed side portions projecting from a connecting portion including a socket and an adjoining lateral slot, means for making a pivotal connection to said side portions, and a ball connecting element seated in said socket and having an integral connector ring and intermediate connecting leg extending in a substantially radial direction from one side thereof, said connecting leg extending through and being movable longitudinally of said slot in a plane coincidental with the axis of the means for making the pivotal connection to the side portions.

11. In a swivel connection, the combination comprising a substantially basket-like connecting element having opposed side portions projecting in substantially parallel relationship from a connecting portion including a socket, means LESLIE G. EHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,132,716 Hanson Mar. 23, 1915 1,225,100 Aubrey May 8, 1915 2,176,519 Anderson Oct. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 127,889 Austria Apr. 25, 1932 

